Landmark 071520 by Wednesday Journal

RIVERSIDE-BROOKFIELD Also serving North Riverside $1.00

Vol. 35, No. 29

July 15, 2020

Rock on Brookfielders brighten residents’ days with painted stones PAGE 9

rblandmark.com @riversidebrookfieldlandmark

Congress Park School getting solar panels PAGE 7

@riversidebrookfield_landmark

Mall movie theaters close doors again PAGE 8

@RBLandmark

North Riverside OKs generous incentive to keep Ford dealer Village will rebate 50 percent of sales tax to Zeigler for next 20 years

COVID COSTS: Caledonia Senior Living received a PPP loan between $350,000 and $1 million, which helped pay staff and other costs related to pandemic prevention.

By BOB UPHUES Editor

North Riverside trustees on July 13 voted to approve a generous sales tax rebate incentive to one of the village’s two car dealerships, resulting in a commitment for that business to remain in town for the next two decades. According to the terms of the agreement passed by a 4-2 vote, the village will rebate to Zeigler Ford, 2100 Harlem Ave., 50 percent of the sales taxes it generates for the next 20 years. The rebates are to be paid quarterly to the Kalamazoo, Michigan-based car dealer group, which purchased the business in 2018 from McCarthy Ford. At the time Zeigler Automotive Group bought the business, its president expressed optimism that the location would be a good one for the company. “We feel this store has great potential,” said Aaron Zeigler, president of the company, back in 2018. “With everything we know about this business and See ZEIGLER on page 13

Millions in federal PPP loans went to local businesses

BOB UPHUES/Editor

From Brookfield Zoo to firms you’ve never heard of, area got lots of COVID aid By BOB UPHUES Editor

A database released last week by the U.S. Small Business Administration shows that 521 businesses and nonprofits in Brookfield, North Riverside and

Riverside applied for and received up to $112,163,000 from the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) created to help small businesses and nonprofits navigate the financial fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. The vast majority of those local orga-

nizations receiving the money – some 487 of them -- were not identified in the database, since they received less than $150,000 from the program. But 34 firms and nonprofits who list adSee PPP LOANS on page 10

FOR SALE TO SOLD with LAUREN CODY Interest rates and inventory are low making this the perfect time to list your home.

Call LAUREN CODY for a complimentary market analysis today! 708-514-3367 • lauren.cody@bairdwarner.com • MOVE ON WITH LAUREN CODY

The Landmark, July 15, 2020

College students’ summer pivots as internships fall through

Riverside native, friends launch Sanitize Your Semester to college students By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

Elizabeth “Ellie” Carlson planned on spending this summer doing research on rare genetic diseases at Duke University as part of a project that her late aunt, Marcy Speer began a couple of decades ago. But then the pandemic hit and the summer research internship was cancelled. Carlson, a 21-year-old rising senior at DePauw University and a Riverside native, got the bad news in late April when she was finishing up her semester from her parents’ home in Wayzata, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. The biochemistry major and premed student began looking for something else to do this summer. She didn’t really want to spend her summer at her parent’s home in Minnesota where she hardly knew anyone, so she began looking for something to do in Indianapolis where some college friends of hers were spending the summer the summer. One friend, Carter Gillie had an internship at a small marketing company. Carlson and two other of her closest friends, whose summer internships had also fallen through, joined Gillie at the beginning of June and got to work developing a product

PROVIDED

Ellie Carlson line called Sanitize Your Semester to sell hand sanitizer, masks, and surface cleaner to college and high school students. Carlson, who grew up in a home on Gatesby Road in Riverside and was a standout swimmer at Fenwick High School, built the product line’s website as the four DePauw students began formulating and executing

a business plan. They worked from an office in a warehouse. “It’s doing different things from anything that I expected to be doing this summer or anything I’ve ever done in the past, but it’s been a really awesome experience because I probably would never be able to work in a field like this considering I’m going to med school,” Carlson said. “It’s taught me a lot about how to work with people, more than anything, and how to figure out what they want and how to market to them.” The product line, available at sanitizeyoursemester.com, consists of hand sanitizer, surface cleaner and surgical masks. Customers can make one-time purchases or purchase a subscription to have a box of sanitizer, surface cleaner and surgical masks delivered to your door every three, six, or 12 months. Prices range from $40.50 for a three-month subscription to $156 for a 12-month subscription. Since Carlson and two of her colleagues are not being paid a salary, they get a 10-percent commission on each item sold. So far their customers have been mostly friends and family, but they are looking to expand their customer base. When not working on Sanitize Your Semester this summer, Carlson studied for the MCAT, the admissions test for medical school. The first week of July she drove home to Minnesota and took the five-anda-half hour exam at a testing center where all test takers had to wear a mask throughout. “It was not fun,” Carlson said of taking the test while wearing a mask. “It made it really difficult.”

4 hit with mob action charge in mall fight Four men seen chasing a man out of North Riverside Park Mall, 7501 Cermak Road, and kicking him while he lay on the ground on July 8 at about 6:05 p.m. each face a felony charge of mob action. According to the police report, the fight started inside the mall. During the scuffle, someone knocked over a garbage can which led some shoppers to believe someone had fired a gun, setting off a brief panic. Shoppers could be seen quickly exiting

the shopping center and running to their cars, while police received 911 calls of shots fired. Investigators said there was no evidence a gun was involved in the incident. A North Riverside police officer outside the mall reported seeing a man run out of Entrance 2 on the east side of the mall near Sears and fall down. Four men who ran out of the mall behind him then began kicking him, police said, before entering a Nissan Altima in the parking lot.

The victim was bleeding from the mouth, police said, but refused medical attention and left the scene before he could be interviewed. Meanwhile, police were able to detain all four men without incident in the parking lot. Charged with mob action were Keith Funches, 26; Keon Funches 26; and Percy McCann, 25, all of Chicago and Kiwahn Crawford, 26, of Carbondale. — Bob Uphues

IN THIS ISSUE Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Kosey Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Editor Bob Uphues Sports Editor James Kay Staff Photographer Alex Rogals Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Designers Javier Govea, Mark Moroney Advertising Designer Debbie Becker Advertising Sales Marc Stopeck Sales and Marketing Representatives Marc Stopeck, Lourdes Nicholls Sales & Development Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner Front Desk Maria Murzyn, Carolyn Henning Publisher Dan Haley Business Manager Joyce Minich

HOW TO REACH US ADDRESS 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 PHONE 708-442-6739 ■ FAX 708-467-9066 E-MAIL buphues@wjinc.com ONLINE www.RBLandmark.com The Landmark is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. The newspaper is available on newsstands for $1.00. A one-year subscription costs $30 within Cook County and $40 outside the county. Advertising rates may be

#1 AGENT IN RIVERSIDE FOR 2019!* *In units + volume based on MREDLLC.COM 1/19-12/19. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

THE SHEILA GENTILE GROUP • LIVE LOCAL • WORK LOCAL

708.220.2174 • www.SheilaGentile.com

obtained by calling our office. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS 0019-585). Postmaster send address corrections to Landmark, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302. © 2020 Growing Community Media NFP.

The Landmark, July 15, 2020

BIG WEEK July 15-22

ST. DANIEL COMBONI

Meet the Comboni missionaries

Girls Night Out Book Club

The Comboni Missionaries, whose mission is located in LaGrange Park, invites you to a special “Meet the Missionaries Night” virtual event via Zoom on Wednesday, July 15 at 7 p.m. The evening will feature Fathers Brian Quigley, Daniel Chisha and Jose Manuel Garcia Oviedo, who will talk about the order’s mission in the U.S. They also support 16 feeding centers in seven African countries. Register by visiting tinyurl.com/y9rx453g. You’ll receive an email with access info.

Brookfield Public Library invites you to participate in its monthly Girls Night Out Book club, held the third Monday of every month via Zoom, on July 20 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The group chats about a wide variety of books — chick lit, romance, mystery, historical fiction, and much more— all focused on women. This month’s book is Ruth Hogan’s “The Keeper of Lost Things.” eBook copies are available on Hoopla. Visit brookfieldlibrary.info/virtual-events to register and obtain access info.

Brookfield Reads author event finale

Brookfield Public Library invites the community to the Brookfield Reads Virtual Finale, featuring award-winning author Mary Robinette Kowal on Thursday, July 16 at 7 p.m. The event will be held via Zoom; advance registration is required. Throughout Brookfield Reads 2020, participants read Kowal’s awardMARY ROBINETTE KOWAL winning book “The Calculating Stars” and attended virtual events discussing women’s contributions to astronomy and the space program. At the finale, Kowal will discuss the book and her popular Lady Astronaut series. To register, contact the Brookfield Public Library at 708-485-6917, ext. 130 or visit brookfieldlibrary.info.

Virtual Mutt Strut

“Jewel, Midway,” photograph by Paul D’Amato (2018)

RAC Members’ Exhibition is online Every summer Riverside Arts Center, celebrates its own with its annual Members’and Kids’ Exhibition. COVID-19 may have prevented members from celebrating together inside the galleries there, they – and the community at large – can appreciate the work chosen for the 2020 exhibition online. Simply visit the RAC website at riversiartscenter.com, scroll down the home page to the exhibit information and click the “download” button. The exhibition includes all manner of styles and media, from figurative and abstract painting to photography, sculpture, glass and ceramics. Artists represented include Jeremy Black, Tom Burtonwood, Paul D’Amato, David Gilbert, Ella Hane, Anne Harris, Holly Holmes, Laura Husar Garcia, Judith Mullen, Sandra Ragan, Susan Schliep, Camille Silverman, Shawn Vincent and Serene Wise.

And more North Riverside Public Library is offering the following virtual programs through Facebook Live, conference calls and the teleconferencing app Zoom. Programs include Talented Tuesdays every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. via Facebook Live on North Riverside Public Library’s Facebook page; Game Night Fridays every Friday at 7 p.m. via Zoom; Writer’s Group Online Meeting via ■

Zoom on July 16 at 6 p.m.; and Seated Tai Chi Moving Meditation via Zoom on July 20 at 6:30 p.m. RSVP to bodenl@northriversidelibrary.org or visit northriversidelibrary.org/events for all Zoom meeting access info. Brookfield Public Library offers virtual classes and programs for patrons of all ages throughout the week. Most youth activities will be presented live on the library’s Facebook page at facebook. com/BrookfieldPublicLibrary. Events include ■

literacy classes and Geek Labs, Zumba for Families and Mammals & More. Youth Services will also host a weekly sidewalk art challenge on Sundays. Each week’s winner will receive a gift card to a local business. Riverside Arts Center is offering Boredom Buster Boxes and Virtual Party Boxes to give the kids some hands-on fun. Each box all the materials needed to complete an art project and instruction sheets. Order online and RAC will ■

The Animal Care League’s annual Mutt Strut 5K Run/Walk to benefit homeless animals is going virtual this year. This year participants are invited to walk or run three miles anywhere they choose between July 17 and 19 while still raising life-saving funds for animals. It costs $20 to register, which you can do by visiting animalcareleague.org/2020-mutt-strut. html. You can download an app, which will track your run via GPS and automatically stop your time when you reach the race distance. You can send it in as your verified race time, or upload race results manually (the app’s not required to participate). deliver the boxes to your front porch (no contact). Order at riversideartscenter.com/category/ classes/kids-classes. Riverside Public Library offers virtual programs for adults, kids and families, including Sunset Meditation via Zoom on July 16 at 8 p.m.; Virtual Storytime via Zoom on July 17 at 10 a.m.; and Knitting Club via Zoom on July 20 at 7 p.m. Visit riversidelibrary.evanced.info/signup/calendar to register and get Zoom access info. ■

The Landmark, July 15, 2020

P O L I C E

R E P O R T S

Chicago man charged with leaving crash scene North Riverside police charged a 26-yearold Chicago man with misdemeanor leaving the scene of an accident and cited him for additional traffic offenses after he allegedly crashed his silver Kia Rio into a light pole and traffic light utility box on the northeast corner of 26th Street and First Avenue on July 5 at 1:25 a.m. Police reported that there were likely two inside the vehicle at the time of the crash, but that neither was at the scene when police arrived and found the vehicle abandoned there. The impact of the crash had caused the lights at the intersection to malfunction, according to police. According to police dispatch records, a 911 caller reported the vehicle had been all over the road prior to the crash, and that the driver had fled on foot. Through license plates on the vehicle and identification left inside, police were able to confirm the owner of the vehicle. Later that morning police were able to reach the driver on the phone. The man reportedly told them he became “disoriented” prior to the crash. He turned himself in on July 6 to be charged. He has an Aug. 3 hearing date at the Maybrook courthouse.

Packing heat at mall, but legally North Riverside police responded to the dock area near Entrance 4 at North Riverside Park Mall, 7501 Cermak Road on July 5 at about 6:15 p.m. after mall security detained two men who were exiting the mall. Both had handguns protruding from their waistbands, according to the police report. Both men, who had valid concealed-carry permits, told police that they owned a store inside the mall. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office told police that the two were able to legally carry the weapons. When told about the mall’s no-weapons policy, an assistant state’s attorney told police that since the men were independent business owners, they could legally carry weapons inside the mall in a concealed manner. Both men were armed with 9 mm pistols.

Items stolen from landscaping business The owner of Kago Landscaping, 9001 31st St. in Brookfield, called police on July 9 to report that sometime between Jan. 3 and July 2, someone had stolen about four cubic yards of loose mulch along with other items from a storage room. The owner said he observed the storage room door had been forced open and that four spare tires, six snow shovels, two pitchforks and an Echo weed cutter had been stolen. Also missing was a package containing license plates for seven trucks.

Aggravated speeding North Riverside police arrested several more people driving at excessive speeds on village streets last week. ■ An officer arrested a 20-year-old North Riverside man and cited him for aggravated speeding on July 5 just before midnight after clocking the man driving at 61 mph in a 35 mph zone while southbound in the 1800 block of Harlem Avenue. ■ North Riverside police cited a 16-yearold Riverside boy for aggravated speeding on July 9 at about 10:25 p.m. after an officer on patrol observed a gray Kia driving westbound on 26th Street from Harlem Avenue driving without headlights. As the officer followed the vehicle, it began accelerating, allegedly reaching 75 mph before stopping for the officer near Park Avenue. ■ On July 11 at about 4 a.m., a North Riverside officer on patrol clocked a black Honda traveling eastbound in the 8200 block of Cermak Road going 65 mph in a 35 mph zone. The officer arrested the driver, a 22-yearold Forest Park man, and charged him with aggravated speeding and driving on a suspended license. He was also cited for having no valid vehicle insurance. ■ A 29-year-old Maywood man was charged with drunken driving and aggravated speeding after an officer stopped him for allegedly driving at 64 mph in a 35 mph zone in the 8700 block of Cermak Road. The driver appeared intoxicated, according to police, and a breath test indicated that his blood-alcohol content was .175, which is more than twice the legal limit of .08.

Secure that load A 31-year-old tow truck driver was ticketed for failure to secure load after a vehicle he was transporting fell off the truck and struck a vehicle driven by a 34-year-old Chicago woman on July 11 at about 6:15 p.m. The victim said she was traveling westbound on Cermak Road approaching the First Avenue cutoff when the vehicle fell off the tow truck, striking hers. The tow truck driver told police he thought he had secured the vehicle properly and didn’t expect it to fall off. He was also cited for driving on a suspended license. These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Riverside, North Riverside and Brookfield police departments, July 6-12, and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Unless otherwise indicated, anybody named in these reports has only been charged with a crime. These cases have not been adjudicated.

— Compiled by Bob Uphues

It isn’t time to panic! It’s never time to panic. • But if you’re having a hard time with bills because you’re off work, or you own a business that is struggling because of this crisis...we might have the answers. • Think about whether Chapter 7 bankruptcy, Chapter 13 repayment, or Chapter 11 business reorganization would help. • We are open and working to help our clients during this crisis. I’m meeting with clients by phone or video, and we can meet, discuss your case, and file for bankruptcy relief, all electronically. I’ve lived in Brookfield for 30+ years, and worked in LaGrange for 7; if there’s a way I can help my neighbors, I will.

David P. Lloyd A T T O R N E Y AT L AW

David P. Lloyd, Ltd. 615B S. La Grange Road La Grange, IL 60525 708-937-1264 info@davidlloydlaw.com www.davidlloydlaw.com

The Landmark, July 15, 2020

Local COVID-19 cases rise slightly as state sees uptick

brought to you by

Helping Your Lawn Beat the Heat During our current stretch of dry and exceedingly hot conditions, proper irrigation of lawns is an urgent topic. It is important for the overall health of the turf, as well as to mitigate potential insect or disease presence.

Scott Even when people McAdam Jr. irrigate their lawns, they can suffer from a lack of drought tolerance that stems usually from one reason or another— or some combination of the two: Mistake #1 – Watering at the wrong time During very hot periods, if you water in the middle of the day, then much of the moisture will evaporate without absorbing. Do it at night, and those dark, wet, and warm conditions can trigger fungal growth. Mistake #2 – Watering on an improper schedule It is common to think that watering every day will help, but short, frequent irrigation results in shallow root systems that do not have drought tolerance. Instead, deep, infrequent irrigation is the key. Begin your irrigation around 3 or 4 a.m., for 45 to 60 minutes per zone, two times per week. This will allow the surface moisture to dry during the day and mitigate disease pressures. The roots will grow deeper into the soil and improve the drought tolerance of the turf. And that, in turn, will provide enough moisture to keep your lawn looking green and healthy.

2001 Des Plaines Ave. Forest Park • 708-771-2299 www.mcadamlandscape.com

Statewide hospitalizations remain on low end since pandemic began By BOB UPHUES Editor

The total number of Riverside residents testing positive for COVID-19 topped 100 last week, with five new cases reported week over week as of the morning of July 14. The total number of cases in Riverside as of Tuesday stood at 103. And while there were no new fatalities from COVID-19 in Riverside – there has not been one reported since early May – the village in the past week saw its highest weekly rate of new cases since the beginning of June. New cases in Riverside has been increasing at a rate of between 2.1 and 2.3 percent each week since June 2. In the most recent week, there was a 5-percent increase in new cases. North Riverside, which had reported just three new cases during a three week stretch beginning on June 16, saw its total of new cases of COVID-19 increase by three in the past week. The Cook County Department of Public Health has reported 81 cases of the disease since it started tracking that data in March. The rate of increase in new cases week over week in North Riverside was 3.8 percent. That’s the highest rate of increase in that village since the period covering June 2-9. North Riverside has not experienced a death from COVID-19, according to Cook County Medical Examiner’s online dashboard, since April 15. There were also five new COVID-19 cases

reported in Brookfield week over week as of the morning of July 14, an increase of 2.7 percent. That’s a smaller rate of increase compared to the prior week, when it was just over 5 percent. The county reported that as of the morning of July 14, a total of 189 Brookfield residents had tested positive for COVID-19 since midMarch. The increase in new cases reflects a general increase in new cases statewide as Illinois enters its fourth week under Phase 4 of the governor’s Restore Illinois coronavirus response plan. The state’s COVID-19 test positivity rate remained at 3 percent on July 13 as the Illinois Department of Public Health reported 883 new confirmed cases of the virus. The 30,012 test results reported Monday followed more than 70,000 total reported the previous two days, driving Illinois to more than 2 million tests conducted since the pandemic began. Illinois became the first state in the Midwest to reach that milestone and the fifth state in the U.S., following California, New York, Florida and Texas. The six deaths reported Monday brought the number of COVID-19 casualties in Illinois to 7,193 out of 154,799 confirmed cases throughout the state’s 102 counties.

Monday’s results mean there has been an average of 991 new cases reported each of the past seven days, an increase of 219 from the previous seven-day period. The seven-day rolling test positivity rate has settled at 3 percent, remaining at that level for the past three days after 23 days below it. According to the Restore Illinois plan, any of the state’s four regions can be moved back to a more restrictive phase of the plan if there is a sustained rise in positivity rate, a sustained increase in hospital admissions for COVID-19 like illness, a reduction in hospital capacity threatening surge capabilities or a significant outbreak in the region that threatens the public health. Hospitalizations, however, remain at their pandemic lows. There were 1,362 COVID-19 positive persons hospitalized at the end of Sunday, 334 of which were in intensive care unit beds. The latter number has not fallen below 300 at any point since the state began reporting the metrics in April. The 136 ventilators in use by COVID-19 patients also represented a near-low for the pandemic. Jerry Nowicki of Capitol News Illinois contributed to this report.

[Statewide] there has been an average of 991 new cases reported each of the past seven days, an increase of 219 from the previous seven-day period.

D103 board votes to move up school start date Teachers union objects, but new calendar aligns with high schools By BOB SKOLNIK

Contributing Reporter

The school year will begin nine days earlier than normal this year in Lyons-Brookfield School District 103, as a divided school board voted 4 to 3 at a June 30 special meeting to start school on Aug. 17. The earlier start day was recommended by District 103 Superintendent Kristopher Rivera, who said the start date would coincide with the first day of school for Lyons Township High School and Morton High School, the two public high schools that serve District 103 residents. Before the vote, District 103 teachers union president Toni Jackman made a public statement criticizing the proposed new start date. Jackman said the district needed more

time to develop a plan to safely open schools in the midst of the continuing pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus. “Even if we complete the plan in time, the materials and staff needed to appropriately implement the plan will likely be hard to come by and may not even be here in time,” Jackman said. “A less than perfectly planned and executed return isn’t just about added pressure, it could mean a loss of life.” Jackman wanted the first day of school to be Aug. 24. Board members Sharon Anderson, Marge Hubacek and Shannon Johnson voted against adopting the colander with the new start date. “Keep it at its normal start time and give us those additional 10 days to figure out what the year is going to look like,” Anderson said.

Voting to approve the new calendar was the board majority of Vito Campanile, Olivia Quintero, Winifred Rodriguez and board President Jorge Torres. On July 13, Rivera told the Landmark that administrators have been meeting with the teachers union about developing a plan for what school will look like when it opens in August. He said that he hopes to finalize a plan after a meeting with the union on July 14. The plan will likely be presented to the school at its July 28 meeting. “We’ve been working our tails off,” Rivera said at the June 30 meeting. District 103 recently surveyed parents about what they want school to look like and about 33 percent of them said that they wanted to continue remote learning instead See D103 on page 13

The Landmark, July 15, 2020

Solar panels coming to Congress Park School D102 board approves installing systems at 4 of its campuses

1122 Maple - 17th Ave. La Grange Park • 354-3930 Finest Cantonese and Mandarin Food at reasonable prices. WE NOW DELIVER TO RIVERSIDE AREA

By BOB UPHUES

CALL FOR DETAILS

Editor

Four schools in LaGrange-Brookfield District 102, including Congress Park School in Brookfield, are in line to have their roofs outfitted with solar panels, which will reduce the cost of buying electricity and fulfill the school board’s goal to operate more sustainably. School board members voted unanimously last month to approve a 25-year power purchase agreement with Ferndale, Michiganbased White Pine Renewables, which is paying for the cost of installing and maintaining the solar panels. White Pine renewables will own the systems and will sell power generated by them to the district at a rate 10 percent below what they pay now. Installing the panels at the school will cost the school district nothing. The cost of the electricity will increase 2 percent a year, but officials estimated the initiative would save the school district $5,000 a year, or $125,000 over the life of the contract. The power purchase agreement can be renewed for two more five-year terms, or the systems can be removed at the end of the deal. In addition to Congress Park School, the district will have solar panels installed at Ogden School in LaGrange and Forest Road School and Park Junior high, both in LaGrange Park. “The district was looking for two things,” said District 102 Superintendent Kyle Schumacher in an email. “One was to increase our use of renewable energy and to try to lower costs. The four buildings chosen had enough roof space to make the investment financially viable to investors interested in putting the solar panels on our roofs.” The vote to approve the power purchase agreement capped a roughly two-year effort by the school board and its solar-energy consultant, Midwest Wind and Solar, to determine the best solution for the school district and then identify an investor to fund the project. The school district could have chosen to pay for installation themselves and lease the panels as part of long-term deal. While that

Golden Wok Restaurant

Fast Carry-outs or enjoy Lunch & Dinner in our new Dining Room • Serving Beer & Wine•

Ivins /Moravecek

Funeral Home & Cremation Services Family owned since 1885 David Moravecek - Owner BOB UPHUES/Editor

Congress Park School, 9311 Shields Ave., Brookfield might have resulted in greater savings over the life of the contract, it would have required an up-front investment of almost $2 million to install them. In addition, the school district would have been responsible for maintaining the panels, and would also have had to pay for the removal and reinstallation of the panels when roofs needed to be replaced. Park Junior High’s roof is scheduled for replacement in 10 to 15 years at an estimated cost of $1.7 million, while the Forest Road school roof is slated for replacement in 15 to 20 years. Parts of the roofs at Congress Park School and Ogden School were slated for replacement this summer, but those have been pushed off until 2021 to correspond with the installation of the solar panels there next summer. Eric Graf, director of business development for Midwest Wind and Solar, which is based in Griffith, Indiana, said school districts and municipalities in Illinois have been moving to utility solar energy systems to reduce carbon emissions and save money since the Illinois General Assembly implemented the Future Energy Jobs Act in 2017.

The law, among other things, provides incentives for initiating solar power projects, and entities like school districts, which have large facilities and can sustain planning over long periods of time, are suited to entering into long-term contracts for such projects. “This project in LaGrange took two years, and it’ll be three years when it’s built,” Graf said. “It’s difficult to maintain a conversation over that period of time.” In addition to the cost savings, the schools where solar panels are installed will provide an educational component for students. Graf said Midwest Solar has worked with an educator to produce curriculum materials so students can learn about renewable energy in the classroom. The schools will also have kiosks that will have pictures of the systems and display information so students and members of the public can see what the systems are producing in real time. “It’ll be present, and that’s the point of it, too, that education component,” Graf said. “It’s important to us that it’s out there in front.”

Additional Suburban Chapel Locations Available Specializing in Pre Need & Veteran Care

80 E. Burlington St., Riverside

(708) 447-2261 | www.ivinsfh.com

Hiring Online Account Reps • Business training • Lasting residual income & Recession proof • Car Bonus program • Flexible hours w/option to work from home office • We offer hope, health, and freedom

Two technology educators leaving Riverside D96 Tech coordinator lured by former boss, STEAM teacher headed to D.C. area By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

Two innovative educators have left Riverside Elementary School District 96 for new jobs this summer. Instructional Technology Coordinator

Jason Smit was hired away from District 96 by former Assistant Superintendent Merryl Brownlow, who is now the superintendent of Palos Heights District 128, and L.J. Hauser Junior High School STEAM teacher Steven Jones has resigned to take a job in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.

Smit worked for District 96 for five years. He was hired in 2015 to be the assistant principal at Hauser, but after one year in that position he was named to fill the newly created instructional technology coordinator See D96 on page 12

Call Claudia Eichelberger for a phone interview. 815-739-8294

The Landmark, July 15, 2020

Two weeks after reopening, mall theaters close again Hollywood keeps delaying new movie releases, limiting interest By BOB UPHUES Editor

It had been just two weeks since the North Riverside Luxury 6, the movie theater complex inside the North Riverside Park Mall, 7501 Cermak Road, reopened its doors as Illinois moved into Phase 4 of the governor’s COVID-19 response plan. But, with Hollywood continuing to delay the release of new summer films and with less enthusiasm for the older films being screened as a result, the theater’s parent company, Classic Cinemas, decided to hit the pause button. All of the chain’s theaters, including the ones in North Riverside, shut their doors at the end of the business day on July 9. “Our team took pride in implementing the health and safety protocols and receiving high marks for their efforts,” said Classic Cinemas CEO Chris Johnson in a press release. “Unfortunately, the lack of new movies and the extra costs have made our current business model unsustainable.” Reached by phone, Johnson told the Landmark that there’s no tentative reopening date, since it’s unclear just when new movies will be released for screening.

The premiere of the big summer blockbuster “Tenet” has now been pushed all the way back to Aug. 12, while “Mulan” won’t open until at least Aug. 21, Johnson said. “There are no new releases, because New York and California are two key markets they believe they need open,” Johnson said. “Until those open and are able to show movies, they’re not going to release new movies.” At the North Riverside Luxury 6, which reopened to the public on June 26 after a three-month layoff due to the pandemic, Johnson said they chose to screen films that either were recently in theaters, like the superhero action film “Bloodshot” or that historically had done well, such as the 2001 hit “The Fast and the Furious” and the 2016 version of “The Jungle Book.” And while there was a core audience of customers who simply enjoyed going to the show instead of watching films on TV, the recycled movies weren’t attractive enough to draw others who might still have reservations about sitting in a movie theater right now – even with safety protocols in place. “As nostalgic as our Classic Cinemas name is, our lifeblood is new movies,” Johnson said. During this latest shutdown, said Johnson, all of the company’s employees will be furloughed, even managers who were not furloughed during the first hiatus that began in March. The theater chain, which is headquar-

COURTESY OF COURTESY OF CLASSIC CINEMAS

The North Riverside Luxury 6 theaters at North Riverside Park Mall tered in Downers Grove and operates 13 movie houses in northern Illinois and one in Beloit, Wisconsin, did apply for and receive a federal Paycheck Protection Loan of between $1 million and $2 million, according to a database of loan recipients released by the Small Business Administration. The loan from Hinsdale Bank and Trust was approved on April 6 for the company, which according to the database employs about 470 people. Classic Cinemas had brought North Riverside Luxury 6 employees back in May when it introduced a concessions-to-go initiative, where customers could pick up popcorn and other movie treats curbside. But with most retail and food establishments back open for business, it didn’t make

sense to continue the to-go program, Johnson said. “It’s horrible,” said Johnson of the decision to furlough employees again. “We’ve had employees on in North Riverside since May 1. Essentially, we’re mothballing everything and waiting for circumstances to change. I can’t believe how nice the employees have been and how understanding. I feel like I’ve let them down.” Johnson said that the shutdown starting July 10 was only temporary and that once the new movies start circulating, the doors will open again. “When things start looking better and we have new movies, we’ll be in better shape,” Johnson said. “I’m not ready to throw the towel in just yet.”

WC3 set to launch enhanced medical dispatch service Dispatchers able to give life-saving instructions before paramedics arrive

By BOB UPHUES Editor

It’s been two years since West Central Consolidated Communications, the joint emergency dispatch operation more commonly known as WC3, went live. But, this week, the center will roll out its emergency medical dispatch (EMD) service, which will allow dispatchers to provide potentially life-saving instructions to callers and enhanced pre-arrival information to paramedics responding to calls. EMD was one of the upgrades mandated by the consolidated dispatch law signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner in 2015. The law required municipalities of less than 25,000 people to consolidate emergency dispatch operations with other such communities. Brookfield, Riverside and North Riverside joined forces to create WC3. McCook later joined as a non-voting member of the center. WC3, which has its own board of directors

and an executive director, operates out of the North Riverside Police Department, 2358 Desplaines Ave., where there is now a central booking and lockup facility for all member communities. The introduction of EMD will result in 911 callers being asked additional questions and given instructions prior to paramedics arriving. While callers might think that the additional questions are delaying the dispatcher from sending paramedics, that’s not the case, said Brookfield Fire Chief Jim Adams. “When people call 911 they may be asked more questions than they are used to,” Adams said. “[They may think] their call for help is being delayed, but in actuality they are dispatching simultaneously.” Adams said it was important for people to understand that change, and that when he worked in another community that initiated EMD, “we actually received lots of complaints because people thought the emergency re-

sponse was being delayed to answer questions.” There are two dispatchers on duty at all times at WC3. While one of the dispatchers is on the phone with a 911 caller, the other is dispatching paramedics to respond. That allows the dispatcher taking the call to get more information and provide instructions to the caller – from walking callers through CPR procedures to giving them information on how to aid someone who’s choking or even someone in childbirth. “The biggest thing is the pre-arrival instructions,” said Riverside Fire Chief Matthew Buckley. “They can tell you how to control bleeding. If someone has had a heart attack and there’s an AED available, they can walk you through how to use it, how to open an airway, how to deploy an EpiPen. “The benefits to residents calling the 911 center are going to be huge.” All of WC3’s dispatchers went through

hours of training for EMD through Loyola University Medical Center and are state certified. They will need to complete continuing education to maintain that certification. “Often forgotten about in the first responder community is our telecommunicators, who are the true first step in the life saving process,” said North Riverside Fire Chief John Kiser. “Now those answering the calls for help are licensed and credentialed similarly to the paramedics and EMTs responding to the calls.” By consolidating dispatch services, small towns like those who are part of WC3 can offer a service they might not have been able to in the past. “Without the development of West Central Consolidated Communications, I don’t believe a community such as North Riverside would have ever been able to undertake EMD due to manpower and administrative oversight constraints,” Kiser said.

The Landmark, July 15, 2020

Painted rocks brighten Brookfield despite pandemic Effort to place brightly colored stones around town earns fans

By HENRY WELDON

Rock painting session at Compassion Factory

Contributing Reporter

The expression “leave no stone unturned” gains new meaning with every stroll through Brookfield. Across the village, painted rocks have been hidden for the public to find and collect. Alice Harris, 37, is a resident of Brookfield who came up with the idea to paint stones and place them in different places. Her daughter, Katelyn Nichol, 14, has been busy painting rocks as well. Once residents find the rocks, they can post photos of them to a Facebook page called “Brookfield Rocks.” which is run by Harris. The page has garnered a large following of more than 750 members. “We found our first painted rock while in Michigan,” Harris said. “We decided to paint our own rocks and spread them around Brookfield.” Residents of Brookfield can find these rocks hidden while going on walks. They can keep the rocks or hide them again. “There are no rules as of right now, but it is family-oriented,” Harris said. The painted rocks started popping up around Brookfield in April. The goal was to get people involved and to give her daughter something to do while everything was shut down due to the pandemic, she said. “My daughter and I paint the rocks and then hide them around town,” Alice said.

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

ROCKING IT: Alice Harris, left, and her daughter Katelyn Nichol have created a community around their hobby of painting rocks and placing them around Brookfield as little surprises for anyone out taking a walk. Their Facebook group has more than 700 members.

If you’d like to get in on Brookfield latest rock-painting craze, two of the members of the Brookfield Rocks Facebook group, Patty Dosek and Carolyn Morriss, will be leading an open painting session on Thursday, July 16 at 7 p.m. and on Saturday, July 18 at 9 a.m. at Compassion Factory Art Gallery and Studio, 9210 Broadway Ave. in Brookfield. The cost to participate is $5 for the rocks, which participants will be free to take home. The session is open to all ages and there’s no set end time. Parents are welcome to accompany kids at no additional cost, though they are welcomes to register to participate as well. All supplies will be provided, and the session will be held outside, weather permitting. Anyone attending must wear a face covering. A registration link can be found at compassion-factory.square.site.

“When she stopped going to school due to the coronavirus, I wanted to keep her busy.” The activity is good for children and keeps them occupied even while everything is closed, according to Harris. Harris’ sister-in-law, Jennifer Harris, 36, also helps with painting the rocks and hiding them. They both live on opposite ends of Brookfield, so one normally covers the north side while the other covers the south side. PROVIDED

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

“I never knew I could paint until a few months ago,” Jennifer said. Originally, they found the rocks around town, but then they started buying them from Home Depot, she said. According to Harris, they also have a salt dough recipe to make “rocks” and they plan to carry the activity into the winter months. “You can make an ornament or a rock, and we might even place some of the ornaments on some evergreen trees in the winter,” Jennifer said. Painting rocks is therapeutic and it calms her anxiety, she said. “I do a lot of promoting and painting,” Jennifer said. “I’ll paint in the mornings and the evenings.” New rock designs are coming as well. They just started hiding rocks with four leaf clovers and good-luck penny rocks, she said.

PROVIDED

The Facebook page has been filled with pictures of rocks found around Brookfield. Harris and her daughter are busy with more rocks to come, she said. “It will only keep growing from this point on,” Jennifer said.

The Landmark, July 15, 2020

Database shows who obtained PPP loans locally

The following businesses and nonprofit organizations applied for and received Paycheck Protection Program loans from the federal government as part of the nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. All of the information below was contained in an SBA database released of those receiving loans in excess of $150,000. In addition, there were 487 other companies in Brookfield, North Riverside and Riverside receiving PPP loan in amounts less than $150,000. Those companies were not identified by the SBA.

Brookfield LOAN AMOUNT $5-10 million $2-5 million $1-2 million $350,000-1 million $350,000-1 million $350,000-1 million $350,000-1 million $350,000-1 million $350,000-1 million $350,000-1 million $150,000-350,000 $150,000-350,000 $150,000-350,000 $150,000-350,000 $150,000-350,000 $150,000-350,000 $150,000-350,000 $150,000-350,000 $150,000-350,000

ORGANIZATION

PHOTOS BY BOB UPHUES/Editor

JOBS RETAINED

Chicago Zoological Society, 3300 Golf Road Sweetener Supply Corporation, 9501 Southview Ave. British Home for Retired Men and Women, 8700 31st St. Advanced Critical Transport LLC, 8940 Ogden Ave. Community Support Services, 9021 Ogden Ave. Connor’s Transportation, Inc., 9100W. Plainfield Rd. Higgins & White Inc., 8400 Brookfield Ave. House Of Doors Inc., 9038 Ogden Ave. Ideal Heating Company, 9515 Southview Ave., Unique Plumbing Co, 9408 47th St., Suite 1 Alphabet Learning Center Inc., 9220 Broadway Ave. Brookfield Collision Shop Inc., 9110 Ogden Ave. Ellis Dynasty Inc., 8800 47th St. Luigi’s Paisans Pizza II Inc., 3720 Grand Blvd. Nicks Metal Fabricating and Sons Inc., 9132 47th St. Robert G. Sansone Inc., 9118 47th St. Tischler Finer Foods, 9118 Broadway United Enterprise LLC, 9220 Ogden Ave. ZMX Transportation Services Inc., 9140 Plainfield Rd.

468 191 138 51 NA 61 19 17 11 23 35 NA 20 39 18 7 66 30 28

Riverside $1-2 million $1-2 million $350,000-1 million $150,000-350,000 $150,000-350,000

GKA Group LLC, 45 E. Burlington St., #293 Miramar International Group Inc., 345 E. Burlington St. St. Mary Church, 126 Herrick Rd. Orthopaedic Associates of Riverside LLC, 353 E. Burlington St. V&G Super Foods Inc., 48 E. Burlington St.

366 135 NA 25 30

Amigo Insurance Agency Inc., 7907 Cermak Rd. Castle Buick-GMC Inc., 7400 Cermak Rd. Pinnacle Decorating Inc., 8404 26th St. The Illinois St. Andrew Society, 2800 Desplaines Ave. Zeigler North Riverside LLC, 2100 Harlem Ave. Beacon Sales Service Installation Inc., 2413 7th Ave. Greenwood Management Group, 9155 Cermak Rd. JLO Services Inc., 7301 25th St. Smart Moves Pediatrics PC, 7929 Cermak Rd, Unit C Solutions for Care, 7222 Cermak Rd., Suite 200

PPP LOANS

Largely forgivable from page 1 dresses in Brookfield, Riverside and North Riverside received loan amounts anywhere between $150,000 and the maximum $10 million amount, including high profile attractions like Brookfield Zoo. The list also includes businesses and nonprofits ranging from a food processing plant, car dealerships, local grocery stores and churches to firms that fly far under the radar. The Riverside-Brookfield Landmark reported in May that its parent company, the nonprofit Growing Community Media, had received a $242,500 PPP loan. As the COVID-19 pandemic began to spread through large urban areas in the United States, including Cook County in Illinois, during the latter part of March, the federal government rolled out the Paycheck Protection Program as part of its more comprehensive CARES Act to help small businesses and nonprofits navigate the subsequent financial fallout. At least 60 percent of the loans, which were doled in increments up to $10 million in some cases, was to be used to pay salaries and benefits of employees, while the other 40 percent could be spent on other things, like mortgage payments, rent and utilities. And much, if not all, of the money loaned to businesses is forgivable, as long as it’s spent according to the guidelines set by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Zoo lands loan between $5-10 million

North Riverside $350,000-1 million $350,000-1 million $350,000-1 million $350,000-1 million $350,000-1 million $150,000-350,000 $150,000-350,000 $150,000-350,000 $150,000-350,000 $150,000-350,000

ACROSS THE BOARD: Local businesses both large and small applied for and received PPP loans. Among the businesses in Brookfield getting loans were House of Doors, which received between $350,000 and $1 million and Sweetener Supply Corp., which received between $2 million and $5 million.

NA NA 61 109 58 12 23 0 11 500 *

* While the SBA database states Solutions for Care retained 500 jobs with its PPP loan, the nonprofit’s executive director, Sarah Saenz, said the organization has 24 employees.

The local organization receiving the most PPP funds, also the area’s largest employer, is Brookfield Zoo, which was loaned between $5 million and $10 million; zoo officials declined to disclose the exact amount. “The Chicago Zoological Society followed the guidelines as specified by the PPP loan documents on how the money can be used, including to support payroll and benefits costs for staff,” said Sondra Katzen, the society’s director of public relations, in response to an inquiry from the Landmark. “Additionally, we have launched a capital campaign to help further offset the significant loss of revenue during our temporary closure.” Brookfield Zoo reopened its doors on July 1 after a shutdown of more than three months due to COVID-19. In early April the zoo furloughed and laid off non-essential staff, amounting to about one third of its workforce. It followed in June by announcing that the zoo was eliminating the equivalent of 56 full-time positions. According to the SBA database, the zoo indicated it

would be retaining 468 jobs when it applied for the loan, which was approved on April 8, three days after the zoo announced the first wave of furloughs/layoffs. Another large PPP loan recipient was the Brookfield food manufacturing company Sweetener Supply Corporation at 9501 Southview Ave., which was awarded between $2 million and $5 million. The company, which retained 191 employees according to the database, manufactures food ingredients including corn sweeteners, honey, white and brown sugar, molasses and others. Headquartered in Brookfield, the company has four other locations, including ones in Berwyn and LaGrange and in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, and Reno, Nevada. It’s building a new location in Wolcott, Indiana, that’s scheduled to open in 2022. The company’s CEO, Joe Gardella, did not respond to a phone message left by the Landmark.

Flying under the radar The two Riverside-based businesses getting the largest PPP loans, of between $1 million and $2 million, are probably ones you’ve never heard of. One is called GKA Group LLC, and it lists its address as the Riverside Post Office at 45 E. Burlington St. According to the Illinois Secretary of State, the company’s manager is Guy Hollis, whose LinkedIn page describes Hollis as an “area franchisee for Culver’s Restaurants since 2004 with eight locations in the Chicagoland area.” The other Riverside company receiving a loan of more than $1 million was Miramar International Group, which has its executive offices at 345 E. Burlington St. The firm’s website casts Miramar as a facilities management company, although in a 2019 SEC filing by Commonwealth Edison, where Miramar’s CEO is mentioned, the company is referred to as an “international public relations firm.” Miramar’s CEO, Juan Ochoa, a man with connections to political power brokers in Chicago, said the 10-year old firm specializes in facilities management, although it does have a background in PR, and has recently provided PR services to a nonprofit in Mexico promoting tourism and trade. “Our bread and butter are facilities,” Ochoa said in an email. “We not only manage buildings, we also self-perform over 80 percent of the work.” The firm’s contracts are about equally split between private and government entities, said Ochoa, and about 70 percent of the company’s employees are minority, most of them Black. The firm, which employs 135 people, does business in seven states, Ochoa said. The total amount of Miramar’s loan was a little less than $1.2 million, Ochoa said, and will be used entirely

The Landmark, July 15, 2020

PHOTOS BY BOB UPHUES/Editor

GETTING HELP: In addition to well-known entities like Brookfield Zoo and North Riverside’s car dealerships getting PPP loans, St. Mary Church (center) received a loan between $350,000 and $1 million. And some companies you probably aren’t familiar with, like Miramar International Group in Riverside and H and W Ingredients in Brookfield received sizable loans. Miramar got about $1.2 million, while H and W got between $350,000 and $ 1 million. on payroll costs. “The loan has allowed us to keep all 135 of our employees working,” Ochoa said, adding that a few of the company’s employees have tested positive for COVID-19. In 2019, Ochoa was elected to the ComEd board of directors. From 2007-10, he was CEO of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, also known as McPier, which operates Navy Pier and the McCormick Place convention complex in Chicago. In 2017, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel appointed Ochoa to McPier’s board of directors, and he served as a special advisor to the mayor. From 1997-2007, Ochoa was CEO of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. In an email, Ochoa said he also sits on the boards of several nonprofits, including Special Olympics Illinois. Miramar has won some very lucrative federal government contracts. On Sept. 30, 2019, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that Miramar International Group of Riverside had been awarded a $25 million contract to provide “facility support and maintenance services at various reserve centers located in California, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah.” Despite such deals, Ochoa said the pandemic has not affected just finding new sources of revenue, but getting paid for work already completed. “One of the least written about problems for small businesses during the pandemic is cash flow,” he said. “As example, our company is owed a sum much greater than our loan. Given the dire straits, we don’t know if we will ever get paid. The economy has impacted every corner of our country. But for this program, our story of staying afloat would be different.”

Nursing homes get ’vital’ help Receiving a $1.2 million loan was Cantata Adult Life Services, one of two local nursing/ assisted living centers applying for and receiving PPP money. Kevin Heraty, chief development officer for Cantata, said the money was being used entirely for payroll. “We have not laid off or furloughed a single person since COVID started, and, in fact, we used part of the PPP monies to pay our hourly employees and direct care staff a higher hour-

ly wage amount for a period from late March to early June,” Heraty said in an email. If Cantata has any COVID-19 positive residents in future, PPP money will pay direct care staff who work with those patients a higher hourly wage, and will do the same for any employee providing offsite care to COVIDpositive patients, Heraty said. Caledonia Senior Living and Memory Care in North Riverside received a loan of between $350,000 and $1 million, money the nonprofit’s president, Gus Noble, called “vital” to weathering the initial wave of the pandemic, which forced them to stop admitting new residents. “We’re a small community, and if we can’t admit more new residents it does increase the financial pressure,” Noble said. Proceeds from the loan, Noble said, have gone to pay bonuses to staff and to buy groceries for them weekly in order to limit their need to go to the store themselves. Caledonia also purchased a new screening system that takes temperatures automatically and allows tracking and tracing of everyone who enters the building. “We wanted to recognize that our staff was the most important part of the protection that we offer to our residents,” Noble said.

Car dealers, construction firms, churches and more Also obtaining PPP loans of between $350,000 and $1 million in North Riverside were its two cars dealerships, Zeigler Ford and Castle Buick, as well as Amigo Insurance Agency and Pinnacle Decorating Company. St. Mary Church in Riverside was also awarded a PPP loan between $350,000 and $1 million. The parish’s pastor, the Rev. Thomas May, referred questions to the Archdiocese of Chicago, which did not respond to the Landmark’s inquiries. Seven Brookfield businesses and nonprofits received loans of between $350,000 and $ 1 million, including Community Support Services, which provides support and services for those with intellectual/developmental disabilities; Advanced Critical Transport, an ambulance service headquartered on Ogden Avenue; and Higgins and White Inc., a food ingredient marketing firm with offices at 8400 Brookfield Ave. The others were Connor’s Transportation

Inc., Unique Plumbing, Ideal Heating Company and House of Doors. Both of the local independent grocery stores – Riverside Foods in Riverside and Tischler Finer Foods in Brookfield – received PPP loans of between $150,000 and $350,000. In the early weeks of the pandemic, management and employees at both stores worked overtime to make sure people could get food and household products during a spree of panic buying as the governor issued his stayat-home order. They took on additional employees, spent money to make sure the stores were disinfected regularly and made other changes.

At Riverside Foods, they expanded home delivery and instituted a curbside pickup service. The loan, said Riverside Foods co-owner Peter Boutsikakis, went to paying employees, including anyone who had to miss an extended period of time due to illness. The store added seven or eight employees to accommodate the new services, and “we had an astronomical amount of spending with cleaning and the free masks we give out.” The store also paid employees hazard pay in addition to their regular pay. “One hundred percent went toward employee use,” Boutsikakis said of the loan proceeds.

ASSISTED LIVING • SHELTERED CARE • MEMORY CARE • SKILLED NURSING

Now safely moving new residents to our small, wooded campus.

A safe & smart choice. Choosing a community you can trust has never been more difficult. Our community has an impeccable record of safety during the COVID-19 crisis and we will stop at nothing to make sure it continues. We would be honored for your family to be part of ours.

CALEDONIA SENIOR LIVING IS A COVID-FREE COMMUNITY 2800 Des Plaines Avenue, North Riverside, IL 60546 (708) 477-5092 | CaledoniaSeniorLiving.org

Limited availability!

The Landmark, July 15, 2020

More than just a mural, it’s a movement Young adults continue public engagement in support of Black Lives Matter By BOB UPHUES Editor

About 20 people in their teens and early 20s took to Riverside’s streets – well, one street in particular, Pine Avenue – on July 12 to continue to keep the Black Lives Matter movement top of mind locally. On Sunday afternoon, they chalked out a “mural” of sorts on Pine Avenue between Longcommon Road and East Avenue. The large, colorful letters spelled out “Black Lives Matter!” along with other slogans often chanted at demonstrations during the past month, such as “say their names” and “no justice, no peace” and the names of those Black Americans who have died at the hands or in the custody of police, including George Floyd, Tamir Rice, Breonna Taylor, Sandra Bland, Freddie Gray and others. According to one of the organizers, the decision to complete the large mural on

D96

No new tech coordinator from page 7 specialist job. In that position, Smit coached teachers in how to use technology in their teaching. “Jason was a great educational leader,” said District 96 Superintendent Martha RyanToye. “I wish him great success in his new role. I know I will certainly miss him. I’ll miss him for his professionalism and his creativity and his focus on innovation.”

Sunday came after some but not all smaller messages in support of Black Lives Matter had been hosed off the streets by Riverside firefighters at the request of police on July 4. “We decided we had to make it bigger, make it a community event, we have to show how many people truly care,” said Audrey Pekny, one of a core group of about eight who have been organizing demonstrations and other events in Riverside, North Riverside and Brookfield. “This time we decided to make it bigger, bolder and in the center of town.” Village President Ben Sells said the decision to remove the messages was a mistake, and that they should have been allowed to remain. The village’s attorney, he said, informed officials that streets and sidewalks are considered a “public forum.” On Monday morning, the latest chalk mural was still visible, though faded somewhat due to vehicles driving over it. According to Sells, however, someone did apparently attempt to deface it during the overnight hours. Surveillance cameras at the train depot reportedly captured video of a man getting out of a gray sedan and apparently dumping at least one bucket of water on it. But the mural appeared pretty much intact when a Landmark reporter went to look at it on Monday.

The group’s efforts have not been universally appreciated. A Facebook thread on the Riverside, IL Community page displaying the earlier chalking event and a photo showing them being washed off the street generated disputes over whether what they had done constituted graffiti and whether the village’s response was appropriate. Even as the young adults began working on the Pine Avenue mural Sunday, they encountered some immediate pushback. After inviting two women who were standing on the Metra train platform to join them, one of the women said they were “All Lives Matter,” which prompted a five-minute backand-forth between the women and a few of the chalkers. “If they’re willing to engage in respectful conversation, so are we,” Pekny said of the encounter. “When we feel it’s getting escalated … we’ll all kind of step back. Our goal is to just not escalate, and if it does escalate, de-escalation.” The group has started a blog called His-

tory Not Taught, which can be found at historynevertaught.wordpress.com. Still getting up and running, the blog will include, according to Pekny, “things in minority history that we were not taught in schools. … There’s still so much we haven’t learned.” The website also serves as a clearinghouse for information on BLM events in the area, links to resources for learning more about the movement, a page addressing misconceptions about it and one listing organizations the address systemic inequities. The group will host a movie night in Mary Park on Herrick Road, across the street from St. Mary Church in Riverside on July 17. They’ll be screening the film “The Hate U Give,” which addresses police violence against people of color, like that which sparked a nationwide movement after the death of George Floyd in May. “We’re always trying to plan stuff,” Pekny said. “It’s just whenever we can get people out. We’d love to more of this throughout the rest of the town.”

Smit will become the director of innovation and communication at Palos Heights District 128 and rejoin Brownlow under whom he worked at District 96 for four years. Smit’s new salary is $92,000. He made $87,206 last year at District 96. The new job means a shorter commute for Smit, who lives in Indiana. Ryan-Toy won’t replace Smit, at least not right away, despite technology becoming more important as the district prepares for what appears to be a combined in-person and remotelearning start of the school year next month. “We don’t have specific plans to replace him,” Ryan-Toye said. “We were leaning that way prior to the pandemic. If we stay in a hybrid or more remote learning position or if

we’re forced into that because of the virus, we are looking at some plans for how we might use current staff and have them do some additional coaching.” School districts are concerned about financial pressures because of a freeze in state aid, possible problems in collecting property tax revenue and added expenses because of the pandemic. “We wanted to be conservative financially because of the pandemic,” Ryan-Toye said, adding she wanted to retain flexibility in the staffing budget. District 96 has another position, called the innovative learning specialist, a job held by Sarah Hickey, devoted to helping teachers use

technology and develop innovative teaching techniques. Jones, who came to Hauser in 2016, started and taught the STEAM elective classes there. These classes combined science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics and business skills in a project driven and collaborative environment. Students worked in groups to design and build products. The school district will hire a new teacher to fill that role. Jones was one of only two Black teachers in District 96 last year. The only remaining Black teacher in the district is Mario Weston, a reading specialist at Central School.

PHOTOS BY BOB UPHUES/Editor

PUTTING IT IN WRITING: About 20 young adults turned out in downtown Riverside on July 12 to chalk a mural on Pine Avenue in support of Black Lives Matter. Someone attempted to deface it by dumping water on a portion of it overnight, according to local officials, but it remained largely intact on Monday.

The Landmark, July 15, 2020

Brookfield two-unit damaged in rear deck fire No one was injured in an early morning fire that damaged the rear of a two-unit apartment building in the 4300 block of Deyo Avenue in Brookfield on July 14. The cause of the fire, according to a police incident report, officially was undetermined, although the report notes that citronella can-

dles lit earlier that evening may have been left burning on the second-floor rear deck. The first 911 calls came in at about 2:20 a.m., reporting the rear deck was on fire at 4320 Deyo Ave. Police arrived to find heavy smoke and flames emanating from the rear of the frame two-story structure.

The residents of the building were evacuating, and police confirmed no one was injured or remained inside. A resident of the building reportedly told police she was asleep in the front area of the second-floor apartment when she awoke to the sound of fire crackling and the sight of smoke beginning to enter

ZEIGLER

tract businesses. In 2007, the village awarded Joe Rizza Ford a $600,000 grant to remodel the dealership when it added a new line of vehicles to the inventory. Two years earlier, the village gave Best Buy a $500,000 grant to expand its store in exchange for a promise to remain in North Riverside until 2018. The store is still there. It’s unclear just how much money will be rebated to Zeigler Automotive Group, and the agreement does not cap the rebates at any set amount. State law requires municipalities to keep confidential sales tax receipts of individual businesses, but the state does release sales tax information for certain categories of businesses. The “automotive” category, which includes car dealerships, gas stations and auto repair shops, brought in more nearly $2 million in municipal sales tax revenue in 2019. Another $806,000 was collected in non-home rule sales taxes in that category, but auto sales are exempt from that tax. While rebating that sales tax revenue will

direct it away from village coffers, Hermanek said the company expected to double its sales in North Riverside, offsetting that cost. “There wasn’t a lot of wiggle room for negotiation,” said Hermanek, who added the agreement was similar to others the company has with other suburban Chicago municipalities. According to the Daily Herald, Zeigler had a sales tax rebate agreement for one of its dealerships in Downers Grove where it was rebated 50 percent of taxes on the first $700,000 in sales and 75 percent on sales over $700,000. In three years, according to the Daily Herald, the dealership had received $860,000 in sales tax rebates. The dealership proposed a similar rebate arrangement when it sought to expand its dealership in Lincolnwood, according to minutes of an August 2018 Lincolnwood Economic Development Commission meeting. Zeigler pitched that village a 15-year agreement where the company would be

rebated 50 percent of all sales up to $50 million and then 65 percent on sales above that amount. The agreement passed Monday by North Riverside trustees states the company will begin construction of the improvements within three years and that they must be complete no later than two years after works starts. Voting for the agreement were trustees Deborah Czajka, Fernando Flores, Joseph Mengoni and Terri Sarro. Trustees H. Bob Demopolous and Marybelle Mandel voted against it. Prior to the vote, Mandel said the Zeigler proposal “was not brought before the board properly.” “This was not held at a regular board meeting, and it was not asked of the residents to give their input at a public meeting and therefore I feel it’s improper and illegal,” Mandel said. Hermanek replied that COVID-19 restrictions limited the ability for the board to meet and said he had called each trustee individually to tell them about the agreement and gauge their support. Trustees were also reportedly copied on multiple memos related to the proposed deal. “You knew about this. You had plenty of opportunity to come back and ask me or anybody else regarding this,” Hermanek said. Mandel insisted that the board could have met publicly via Zoom to discuss the proposed agreement instead of voting on it the first time the subject appeared on any public agenda. Demopoulos appeared to have had a change of heart about the proposal, prefacing his no vote by saying, “I thought maybe at first it was a good deal, but it seems kind of greedy and might set a precedent.” While he didn’t know the company’s exact timeline for the North Riverside location, Hermanek said Zeigler Automotive Group was ready to act. “[Zeigler] said once they have a sale [of the property], they would like to get started as soon as possible,” Hermanek said.

Rivera said that he will try to accommodate those parents who don’t think it is safe to send their kids to school. The district is planning on having Chromebooks available for every student and teacher. It is working on making sure that all families have internet access. Students attending school in person will probably have to eat their lunches in their classrooms.

“I can’t see any way around of having cold lunches every single day, and that becomes old really quick,” Rivera said, adding that parents might want to consider having students bring their own lunches to school. Although bus service will continue to be provided, Rivera said he would encourage parents that can drive their children to school to do so. “I think it is much safer for parents to drive

their kids,” Rivera said. The district has ordered 3,000 face masks and will provide one to every student and teacher. Students and teachers will be required to wear face masks while they are in school except when they are eating and perhaps during recess. The district plans to charge students $3 for a replacement mask if they lose the mask the district provides for them.

Village’s first rebate deal from page 1 with the community’s support, we can really make this a successful store.” Zeigler owns more than 25 dealerships in Illinois, Indiana and Michigan, and according to the terms of the North Riverside agreement, it’s prepared to make a significant investment in that business. Dan Scheid, CFO of Zeigler Automotive Group did not respond to an email regarding the company’s plans in North Riverside. North Riverside Mayor Hubert Hermanek Jr., however, said that Zeigler Automotive Group is in negotiations to purchase the roughly 7-acre parcel of land from Rizza Auto Group, which owns it. Joe Rizza Ford had operated at that location from 1978 to 2017, when it sold the business to McCarthy Ford. Hermanek said once Zeigler obtains the property, the company plans to expand the showroom and increase the dealership’s inventory. Aaron Zeigler met in person with Hermanek to pitch the sales tax rebate idea, reportedly telling the mayor that the company planned on investing $10 million to overhaul the property, modernize the showroom and significantly increasing its stock of new and used vehicles. “He showed me the plans; it’s just beautiful,” said Hermanek. “But because of the cost, they wanted 50 percent of the sales tax.” With the dealership changing hands three times in the past three years, Hermanek said the village getting a commitment from a major automotive group to remain in town for the long haul was vital. “We certainly didn’t want to lose them,” Hermanek said. “It’s in everybody’s best interest that we have that commitment from them.” North Riverside has never agreed to any sales tax rebate deals in the past, instead offering “grants” as incentives to keep or at-

D103 from page 6

of sending their children back to school. “That was a little surprise, so we may have to run two plans, a remote and a blended or possibly in person,” Rivera said. “A third [of families] is nothing to sneeze at.”

into the rear of the unit. Brookfield firefighters, assisted by units from Forest View, Lyons, Summit, LaGrange and Oak Brook, extinguished the flames, The scene was under control by 3:15 a.m. Firefighters cleared the scene by 4:45 a.m. — Bob Uphues

BOB UPHUES/Editor

Zeigler Ford, 2100 Harlem Ave., North Riverside

The Landmark, July 15, 2020

Opinion KOSEY CORNER

THE LANDMARK VIEW

Tough to swallow

hen it comes to municipalities, especially small ones like North Riverside, handing out generous corporate welfare packages to companies that prefer redirecting public money back to themselves, we’ve always been ambivalent. There’s a certain gun-to-the-head feeling about such asks from corporations, who cry poor and indicate that unless you give them something to sweeten the pot, they may just take their toys elsewhere. Lord knows, there are plenty of municipalities who’d be willing to take a car dealer off your hands, so small towns like North Riverside find themselves perpetually in a bind. They need the sales taxes to function, and they need big businesses like car dealerships to provide those taxes. To soften the blow, the companies argue the money it will save through rebate schemes like the one approved Monday for Zeigler Ford in North Riverside, inventory will double, sales will double and, in the end, the village will collect the sales tax revenues it needs. But, are automobile sales at dealerships really doing that great right now? The pandemic has driven more and more people online and we may be in the midst of a fundamental change in the way new cars are purchased. This sales tax rebate deal the village just signed with Zeigler Ford will last 20 years. Can anyone actually imagine what the retail sales environment will look like in North Riverside in 2040? We have a hard time imagining what it’s going to look like in 2025. If the COVID-19 pandemic lingers well into 2021, life will begin changing permanently. Living in a nation completely unable to settle on a comprehensive national response to the emergency, it’s impossible to predict how this will pan out. Will a vaccine arrive to save the day or will we slide in and out of quarantine as cases spike and fall? We just don’t know. So, the prospect of giving up what likely will be hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in sales taxes at such a time is a tough ask, though, granted, Zeigler Ford pulling out in two years when their lease with Rizza Auto Group expires is no bargain, either. The sales tax rebate deal, then, is a real leap of faith for North Riverside, who we now guess will be approached by other businesses for similar deals. Although this kind of thing isn’t exactly new. While the village never wanted to rebate sales taxes in the past, it had given incentives in the form of cash grants. Joe Rizza Ford got one in 2007, Best Buy got one in 2005 and in 2012 the village paid a development company $6.8 million to land Costco. Those, however, were short-term incentives, paid back to the village in the form of new, unencumbered sales tax revenues. Zeigler Ford has said it will increase its inventory in North Riverside and ramp up sales all while pumping millions as an investment in the property, which it intends to buy. Just how quickly the company will be able to ramp up sales, or if it will, remains to be seen. In the meantime, the village just swallowed hard and hoped for the best. Good luck.

The Selborne, or do you spell it Selbourne, saga

he summer saga of Selborne Road has finally come to an almost end. I say almost since there are a few little details to be taken care of, but we can use it and get to our driveways. I have written about this before, but to refresh your memories or tell you something new, this is the third time since 1969 Selborne has had work done on it. It is a long street and much traveled and is even what can be termed a “cut through” street, allowing drivers to bypass Harlem Avenue traffic. Years -- and I mean years -- ago, a police car manned by “the Silver Fox” policeman Danny Formato would park at 629 Selborne to catch speeders or those who would ‘slide’ or ‘blow’ the stop sign at the corner of Longcommon and Harlem. His nickname came from his resemblance to the movie actor Jeff Chandler. The Silver Fox never gave anyone a pass, except my mother. He told her since her daughter and his son went to school together he would let her go. My mother was speeding? Shame on you, Lena. Now with the repairs came a change in the street signs and the spelling of the road’s name itself. When I was growing up, the street was spelled “Selbourne.”

Then with new street signs it became Selborne, without the U. I was told they (whoever they were) wanted to shorten the name. I think they just made a mistake. I did a little online research (I should have gone to the Riverside Museum) using the different spellings of the word. It is somehow connected to England. David Selbourne was a British political commentator and Raphael Selbourne was a British author. Selborne (without the U) is a village in East Hampshire famous for its association with the 18th century literary naturalist Gilbert White. It also is a town in Tasmania. So that’s what I know so far. My family has been on Selborne Road since 1941, and members of the family reside in two homes on the street. I have seen many changes on the block and have been encouraged to start documenting the saga of Selborne Road. A good place to start would be the Gage farmhouse on the corner of Selborne and Longcommon, that is a story in itself. My story of Selborne Road will only cover the Street from Longcommon Road to Parkway Road and the small triangular park that played an important part to growing up on Selborne. Riverside loves its history time to start adding to it.

JOANNE KOSEY

OBITUARIES

Rose Marie Kuharchuk, 87

Jesse J. Rocha, 97

Former LaGrange Park resident

Worked for TWA Airlines

Rose Marie Kuharchuk (nee Bonk), 87, of Homer Glen and formerly of LaGrange Park, died July 8, 2020. Born July 21, 1932, she worked in the medical records department of a hospital prior to retirement. Ms. Kuharchuk was the wife of the late Phillip J. Kuharchuk; the mother of Michael (Lynette) Kuharchuk and Kenneth (Lucy) Kuharchuk; the grandmother of Allan (Kathryn) Kuharchuk, Brittany Kuharchuk, Jack Kuharchuk and Nicholas Kuharchuk; the great grandmother of Olivia Kuharchuk, Ethan Kuharchuk and Ella Kuharchuk; the sister the late Eugene (the late Ruth) Bonk and Stella (Steve Drimel) Bonk; and an aunt to many nieces and nephews. Services have been held. Interment was at Resurrection Cemetery, Justice Hitzeman Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements. You may leave condolences online at HItzemanFuneral. com. If you wish to send a Mass card or sympathy card to the family, send it to Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st St., Brookfield, 60513, c/o the Rose Marie Kuharchuk Family.

Jesse J. Rocha, 97, of Bartlett and formerly of Brookfield, died July 6, 2020. Mr. Rocha was born Dec. 26, 1922 in Chicago to the late Manuel and the late Virginia (nee Herrera) Rocha. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a retired reservations supervisor for TWA Airlines. Mr. JESSE J. ROCHA Rocha also enjoyed traveling, woodworking and model trains. Mr. Rocha was the husband of the late Rosina (nee Krinner); the father of Joseph (Lois) Rocha and Eric Rocha; the grandfather of Joseph C. (Diane) Rocha, Christine Rocha, Karen (Sam) Babich, Mike (Ann) Rocha, Daniel Rocha and Eric (Becky) Rocha; stepgrandfather of Michael (Jami) Bayes and Steven (Re-

The Landmark, July 15, 2020

OBITUARIES nee) Bayes; the great-grandfather of Joseph Pepper, Brennan (Sarah) Loptien, Christopher Rocha, David Rocha, Jessica Rocha, Samuel Rocha, Mary Rocha, Caleb Rocha and step great-grandpa of Rachel (Robert) Lawrance and Kristina (Travis) Pfeifer; the great-great-grandpa of four; and great-greatgreat-grandpa of one. Services have been held. Entombment was at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Christ the King Garden Mausoleum, in Hillside. Memorial donations are appreciated to St. Barbara Church, 4008 Prairie Ave., Brookfield, 60513; Brookfield Zoo, 3300 Golf Road, Brookfield, 60513; or American Legion Post #2910. Johnson-Nosek Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements. Online condolences may be offered to the family at JohnsonNosek.com.

Geraldine Vasquez, 78 Loan officer assistant G e r a l d i n e Vasquez (nee Villarreal), 78, of Bolingbrook and formerly of Berwyn and Chicago, died May 29, 2020. Born June 8, 1941, Ms. Vasquez worked as a loan officer assistant for a financial instituGERALDINE VASQUEZ tion. Ms. Vasquez was the wife of Peter B. Vasquez; the mother of Rhonda (Samuel) Gurgone, Peter B. Vasquez, Tricia (Steven) Macaluso and Jason A. Vasquez; the grandmother of Dominica Vasquez, Isabella Mia “Bella” Macaluso, Andrea Vasquez, Brock Macaluso, Peter Vasquez and Isadora Vasquez; and the sister of Rose Marie De La Fuente. Visitation will be on Thursday, July 16, from 9 to 10 a.m., with a private family service immediately following. Interment is at Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside. COVID-19 guidelines limit capacity to 50 people. Social distancing should be respected by all participants. All attendees are required to wear a mask. If you exhibit any signs of sickness or illness, please respect others and do not attend. Hitzeman Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements. Anyone wishing to express condolences to the family online, can do so at HitzemanFuneral.com. If you wish to send a sympathy card to the family, send it to Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st St., Brookfield, 60513, c/o the Geraldine Vasquez family.

Steven R. Wojcik, 64 Riverside resident Steven R. Wojcik, 64, of Riverside, died July 8, 2020.

Mr. Wojcik was an independent cinematographer, and the family would request that you continue to support the cinema, watch classic movies and laugh out loud every day. He was the husband of Rebecca “Becky”; the father of Laura (Jack) Benton and David Wojcik; the brother of Rich and the late John Wojcik; the son of the late Rita and late Chester Wojcik; and a dear friend of many. Per Steve’s wishes there will be no services. Ivins/Moravecek Funeral Home, Riverside, handled arrangements.

James W. Zak, 76 Retired pressman for the U.S. Treasury James W. Zak, 76, of North Riverside, died July 13, 2020. Mr. Zak was a longtime North Riverside resident who was retired from his career as a pressman for the U.S. Treasury Department. He was an active member of Mater Christi Church and faithfully attended North Riverside Village Board meetings, often accompanied by his wife, Myra, who survives him. Mr. Zak penned many letters that appeared on the editorial page of the Riverside-Brookfield Landmark, often uplifting anecdotes about events in his own life or about people who were kind and made an impact on others. The letters were always hand-written and Zak personally delivered them to the newspaper offices. He was the husband of Myra; the father of Keith (Laura), James (Lynn), Mark (Holly) Zak, Serene (Sal) Russo, Brian (Angela) and Christopher (Julie) Zak; the step father of Robert (Lisa) Morales; the grandfather 15; and the brother of Frederick (Joanne), Alan (Linda) and the late Nannette (late Bernard) Richert. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, July 17 at 10 a.m. at Mater Christi Church, 2431 10th Ave, North Riverside. Ivins/Moravecek Funeral Home, Riverside, handled arrangements.

Michael J. Zamojski, 73 Retired electrical designer Michael Jerome Zamojski, 73, of North Riverside, died June 26, 2020. Mr. Zamojski served in the U.S Army during the Vietnam War and was retired from a career as an electrical designer. He was the husband of the late Liana Elizabeth Foster-Zamojski; the father of David (Kath) and Erin Zamojski; and the brother of John. Ivins/Moravecek Funeral Home, Riverside, handled arrangements.

SURE, AT FIRST I WAS A LITTLE TAKEN ABACK BY THE WHOLE PEEING STANDING UP THING. SURE, I TAUGHT TO THROW STICK ATBUT FIRST I WAS AHIM LITTLE TAKENAABACK AND NOW HANGING OUT WITH HIM BY THE WHOLE PEEING STANDING UP THING. IS ITHE BESTHIM PARTTOOFTHROW MY DAY.A STICK BUT TAUGHT AND NOW HANGING OUT WITH HIM IS THE BEST PART OF MY DAY. — EINSTEIN adopted 12-09-10 — EINSTEIN adopted 12-09-10

The Landmark, July 15, 2020

Our Community Needs Community Journalism Itâ€™s not just about crime reports and board meetings. We also need inspiring, funny, heartwarming and, at times, heartbreaking stories about our friends, neighbors and children. Perhaps now, more than ever.

Let's build community!

Read and Support Riverside-Brookfield Landmark.

Partner with us. Donate at GrowingCommunityMedia.org

Growing Community Media NFP is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization

Sports

@RBLandmark

The Landmark, July 15, 2020

RBHS tennis hosting community-wide fundraiser Bulldogs head coach looking for more participants

By JAMES KAY Sports Editor

Last year, an overbearing heat index was the main obstacle for RiversideBrookfield High School’s new annual tennis tournament. This year, it’s a global pandemic. The Bulldogs’ boys and girls tennis head coach, Sam Weiss, is holding the tournament for the second year in a row to raise money for RBHS’ tennis program. Despite 100-degree weather last year, the team was able to raise over $1,000 (HYPERLINK). However, due to the healthy concerns over the spread of COVID-19, there haven’t been as many people who have signed up for the tournament this year. Weiss is pushing forward with the event after coordinating with the school to host a singles weekend on July 24-25 and a doubles weekend on July 31-Aug. 1. “We think this is going to be a good way of getting the community involved after all that it has been through,” said

Weiss. “With safety in mind, we are looking to get more members of the community involved and make this an annual tournament. The only negative feedback we had last year was the hot temperature, so we are just trying to get the word out and raise money for our program.” According to the event’s flyer, the cost for participating in the singles weekend is $35 a player, while doubles weekend is $30 for each player. It will be a best two out of three, double-elimination tournament, guaranteeing everyone a minimum of two matches. Because of the unprecedented circumstances, the goal is to reach $500. Marc Lagler, who played tennis at RBHS, participated last year and will do so again this year. Because tennis is naturally physically distant, Lagler isn’t too worried about the spread of COVID-19 at the event because everyone will be spread out. “I feel like it’s definitely a helpful distraction for everyone in the community,” said Lagler. “I think about all the [RBHS] players that didn’t get to play this sea-

son. Being able to go out there after losing the [spring] season is going to be great, because we worked so hard. And this is open to the Riverside-Brookfield community so it’s going to be great.” The tournament is going to follow the IHSA’s Phase Four guidelines released on July 3. On July 9, the IHSA announced it is working with the Illinois Department of Public Health to revise the guidelines to exclude activities involving contact while implementing other safety measures. However, even though the event will be held at RBHS’ tennis courts, the guidelines won’t impact the timing of the tournament since it is a community event that Weiss is coordinating, according to the school. To ensure safety, all participants will have their temperatures taken before they enter the courts. There will be three balls per match and only the players involved in each respective match will use them. Players can sanitize hands and equipment as needed at the end of the match or in between games.

PROVIDED BY SAM WEISS

DOUBLE TROUBLE: While all the proceeds from the tournament go to RBHS tennis, the winners will be provided a trophy like this doubles team.

OPRF soccer player raises $540 for BLM causes Lions, Huskies put rivalry aside By JAMES KAY Sports Editor

When OPRF soccer player Quincy Martin saw the same Black Lives Matters posts circulating around social media, he wanted to shake things up to enhance the cause. After days of brainstorming, he landed on a three on three soccer tournament. “I wanted to bring authenticity and something new to the movement,” said Martin. “I felt like soccer is a low to medium risk sport and, since I know a lot of people who play, it made too much sense to put the tournament together and raise money for Black Lives Matter.” On July 6, players from various high schools (including OPRF’s rival Lyons Township) convened at Ridgeland Commons and raised $540. Of that, $400 went to two Black Lives Matter organizations, Black Lives Matter Chicago and My Block My Hood My City, while $140 went to Martin’s

friend, Jazmin, whose father recently died due to complications with COVID-19. While Martin considered the event to be a success, there were a few hurdles he had to jump through to get the tournament off the ground. Initially, he started making calls around town to see if he could reserve space on OPRF’s football field and the Lake Street Field across the street from the school. Since the IHSA is still working with the Illinois Department of Health to let schools use their facilities safely, Martin was turned away. Eventually, Ridgeland Common said he could use their field but then there was the issue of safety and making sure people weren’t spreading COVID-19 at the tournament. Martin decided it would be best to test everyone’s temperatures before they could participate and wore plastic gloves when handing out plastic bottles of water for each participant so they didn’t have to share. “We didn’t want to add to the problem,” said Martin. What he didn’t expect was the amount of unfamiliar faces that ended up showing up. One of Martin’s former teammates, Zaahir Hall, rallied players from opposing schools to

join the tournament. “Before the tournament started, I tried to have as many teams written down so I knew who was going to show up,” said Martin. “So in my phone, I had five teams that expected to be there. 12 [teams] ended up showing up and I saw these [LTHS] kids arrive and I was like, ‘wait a second.’” Dating back to last season on Oct. 1, the Lions and Huskies played a contentious conference bout that ended with LTHS winning on eight rounds of penalty kicks on OPRF’s turf (it was the Lions’ first win there since 2013). But the tournament wasn’t about a rivalry (for the most part). “That [Oct. 1] game was definitely the most intense soccer game I’ve ever been a part of,” said LTHS player Jack Luttrell. “But going into this tournament, I felt it was great for the OPRF and LT communities to show we can stand together and support the Black Lives Matter movement.” His teammate in the tournament and on LTHS soccer, Cameron Labbato, echoed a similar sentiment. “It was pretty funny because we had a lot of teams [at the tournament] rooting against us,”

said Labbato laughing. “But this was a great opportunity to get out there and play with the boys and promote the cause of the Black Lives Matter. That’s what this was about.” Jason Fried, OPRF’s boys soccer head coach, attended the event as a member of the community since high school programs can’t convene until the IHSA can move to Phase 4. “I am really proud of and appreciative to see so many players and other young adults in our community taking the initiative to organize [Black Lives Matter] events where we can unite, support one another,” said Fried in an email. As for future plans, Martin plans on organizing another tournament to raise more money for Black Lives Matter movements and his friend Jazmin after the success of this past event. “I am definitely going to do it again,” said Martin. “I want to give [Jazmin] more money this next time around because contributing to Black Lives Matter means supporting Black lives and she has been through a lot. So I will do this again at some point and hopefully next time we will raise more money.”

The Landmark, July 15, 2020

RBLANDMARK.COM New local ads this week

HOURS: 9:00 A.M.â€“ 5:00 P.M. MONâ€“FRI

WEDNESDAY

CLASSIFIED Deadline is Monday at 5:00 p.m.

Place your ad online anytime at: www.RBLandmark.com/ClassiďŹ ed/

YOUR WEEKLY AD

REACHES SIX SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES: OAK PARK, RIVER FOREST, FOREST PARK, BROOKFIELD, RIVERSIDE, NORTH RIVERSIDE, AND PARTS OF CHICAGO

Please Check Your Ad: The publisher will not be responsible for more than one incorrect insertion. Wednesday Journal Classified must be notified before the second insertion. The newspaper reserves the right to edit or reject any advertisement.

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 | BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 | BY E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@RBLANDMARK.COM HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

HAPPY KIDDâ€™S WEST INC. 6928 W 16th St Berwyn, IL 60513 We are seeking a Director and 2 teachers. Director must be qualiďŹ ed and have Associateâ€™s degree or equivalent. Teachers must be director or teacher qualiďŹ ed. Mon. thru Fri. working with Infants to 6 yrs old. Compensable salary negotiable based on experience. Call 773-619-5545 or fax resume to 773-728-5437.

MEDICAL SERVICE MANAGER Dr. David Cavazos, D.C. LLC. Seeks Medical Service Manager. Mail resume to 66 E North Ave, Carol Stream, IL

BETTYâ€™S DAYCARE IS HIRING! We are looking for a qualiďŹ ed Assistant Director (also looking for qualiďŹ ed teachers and assistant teachers), must have a bachelor in Early Childhood Education. experience with Head Start is a plus. email resume to: bettydaycaremr.evans@hotmail. com or call 773-261-1433 Bettyâ€™s Daycare Academy Inc. 5725 W. Chicago Ave. Chicago Il. 60651

River Forest D90 has openings for Temporary Daytime Custodians starting August 25, 2020. Responsible for cleaning of buildings and grounds, as assigned. A strong work ethic, interpersonal skills and custodial experience is required. Salary commensurate with experience. For consideration, please send resume to Pam Jenkins, HR Specialist at jenkinsp@ district90.org.

You Have Jobs. We Have Readers! Find The Best Employees With Wednesday Classified! Call 708/613-3333

River Forest D90 has an opening for a 2nd Grade Teacher for Willard Elementary School. Qualifications: Valid Illinois Professional Educator License with Elementary Grade School Endorsement. Successful Teaching Experience is preferred. A Masterâ€™s Degree is preferred. Job Duties: The teacher will be responsible for teaching the curriculum and working cooperatively with colleagues including: grade level teammates, the Student Services Team, other faculty and support staff. The teacher will be responsible for building relationships with students, supervising and managing the class, effectively teaching the curriculum to meet the individual needs of students, evaluating individual studentâ€™s progress, and communicating progress with children and parents. Application Procedure: Interested candidates should complete the online application available at district90.org. Please do not send hard copies of supporting documentation, i.e., cover letters, resumes, licensure, etc. to River Forest Schools District 90; instead, upload these materials onto the online job application system for proper processing. River Forest Public Schools District 90 Student Support Services - Vacancies for the 2020-2021 School Year For detailed qualifications requirements and job duties, please visit our website at https:// www.district90.org/about/ employment for our complete list of employment opportunities. District 90 is seeking qualified and experienced student support educators for the following positions: â€˘ Special Education Support Teacher (Willard Elementary School) â€˘ Special Education Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Coordinator (All D90 Schools) â€˘ Speech and Language Pathologist (Roosevelt Middle School)

General Qualifications: Valid Illinois Professional Education License with endorsement in field of study, a Masterâ€™s Degree is preferred and successful teaching experience with students in a classroom setting is preferred. General Duties: Provide excellence in education by developing and implementing activities that encourage students to be life-long learners. Possesses knowledge of District policies and regulations relating to areas of responsibilities. Create an environment that is conducive to learning and appropriate to the developmental maturity and interests of each student. Application: Apply online at www.district90. org. Application Procedure: Interested candidates should complete the online application available at district90.org. Please do not send hard copies of supporting documentation, i.e. cover letters, resumes, licensure, etc. to River Forest Schools District 90; instead, upload these materials onto the online job application system for proper processing.

Advertise in Wednesday Classified. Call 708/613-3342

ROOMS FOR RENT AUSTIN CLEAN ROOM With fridge, micro. Nr Oak Park, Super Walmart, Food 4 Less, bus, & Metra. $116/wk and up. 773-637-5957

SUBURBAN RENTALS OAK PARK 1 BR APT 1 BR, LR, DR, KITCHEN, encl. back entry/porch. Laundry, heat incl. Storage avail. Owner occupied 2 ďŹ‚at. Quiet residential neighborhood. $1050/mo. Garage pkg $65/mo. 708-383-1512 OAK PARK: ROOSEVELT/ OAK PARK AVE. CORRIDOR 2BR 4RMS close to blue line. On site laundry, parking, heat & water incl. $1200/ month 708-383-9223

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT THERAPY OFFICES FOR RENT Therapy ofďŹ ces for rent in north Oak Park. Rehabbed building. Nicely furnished. Flexible leasing. Free parking. Free wiďŹ ; Secure building; Friendly colleagues providing referrals. Shared waiting room; optional Conference. Call or email with questions. Shown on Sundays. Lee 708.383.0729 drlmadden@ameritech.net

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT RIVER FORESTâ€“7777 Lake St. *1116 sq. ft. suite *569 sq. ft. with patio RIVER FORESTâ€“7756 Madison St. *926 sq. ft. OAK PARKâ€“6597 North Ave. *598 sq. ft. 6142-44 Roosevelt Rd. *3 and 5 room suites Strand& & Browne Strand Browne 708-488-0011 708-488-0011

CEMETERY PLOTS 2 WOODLAWN CEMETERY PLOTS (2) Side by side Woodlawn Cemetery plots. Birchwood Section Lot 415 Part 4 Graves 3&4 unit D. $4,000 for both, includes transfer fees. I will meet at Woodlawn for transfer of deeds. Contact: 847-858-7726

ITEMS FOR SALE BUMPER POOL TABLE $29.00 708-488-8755 LENOX CHINA 5 piece place settings Lenox china, Tuxedo pattern IRISH CARDIGAN Menâ€™s size large. WATERFORD GLASSES Colleen pattern, 2 water goblets, 2 wine glasses, 5 double old-fashioned glasses 708-386-6160

SUBURBAN RENTALS

M&M property management, inc.

708-386-7355 â€˘ www.mmpropmgt.com 649 Madison Street, Oak Park Contact us for a complete list of available rentals throughout Oak Park and Forest Park.

Apartment listings updated daily at:

ITEMS FOR SALE

ITEMS TO BE GIVEN AWAY

LYON & HEALY MUSIC CABINET Doors slide vertically. LP and music storage. Black. 708-488-8755

GARAGE/YARD SALES BrookďŹ eld

MULTIPLE FAMILY GARAGE SALE 9037 BARTLETT AVE SAT 7/18 AND SUN 7/19 9AM TO 5PM

Many Household Items, Frames, â€œJusticeâ€? Clothing, Shoes, DVDâ€™s, Furniture plus Many Items all must go! Please Wear your Mask!

HOSPITAL BED We will deliver. 708-485-0929

WANTED TO BUY WANTED MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, medals, patches, uniforms, weapons, ďŹ‚ags, photos, paperwork, Also toy soldiers â€“ lead, plastic â€“ other misc. toys. Call Uncle Gary 708-522-3400 Lost & Found, Items for Sale, and To Be Given Away ads run free in Wednesday Classified. To place your ad, call 708-613-3342

CEMENT Residential Commercial Industrial Licensed Bonded Insured Free Estimates Âˇ Veteran Owned

Drives Walks Patios Stamped Concrete Curbs/Gutters GarageÂ Floors Foundations Parking Lots Water Control

devegaconcrete.com Âˇ 708-945-9001

MAGANA

C O N C R E T E C O N S T RU C T I O N â€œQUALITY IS OUR FOUNDATIONâ€? ESTABLISHED IN 1987

COMMERCIAL Â˜ INDUSTRIAL Â˜ RESIDENTIAL

708.442.7720 '5,9(:$<6 Â‡ )281'$7,216 Â‡ 3$7,26 67(36 Â‡ &85% *877(56 Â‡ 6,'(:$/.6 612: 3/2:,1* Â‡ 67$03(' &2/25(' $**5(*$7( &21&5(7( FREE ESTIMATES LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED

ELECTRICAL Ceiling Fans Installed

Find your new apartment this Saturday from 10 am â€“ 4pm at 35 Chicago Avenue. Or call us toll free at 1-833-440-0665 for an appointment. ď ? ď ? ď ? ď ? ď ? ď ? ď ? ď ? ď ?

ď ? ď ? ď ? ď ? ď ? ď ? ď ? ď ? ď ?

A&A ELECTRIC

Let an American Veteran do your work

We install plugs for battery-operated vehicles We fix any electrical problem and do small jobs We install Surge Protectors â€˘ Home Re-wiring â€˘ New Plugs & Switches Added â€˘ New circuit breaker boxes â€˘ Code violations corrected Service upgrades,100-200 amp â€˘ Garage & A/C lines installed Fast Emergency Service | Residential â€˘ Commercial â€˘ Industrial Free Home Evaluations | Lic. â€˘ Bonded â€˘ Ins. â€˘ Low Rates â€˘ Free Est.

708-409-0988 â€˘ 708-738-3848 Sr. Discounts â€˘ 30 Yrs. Exp. Servicing Oak Park â€˘ All surrounding suburbs â€˘ Chicago area

ď ? ď ? ď ? ď ? ď ? ď ? ď ? ď ? ď ?

PETS While youâ€™re away, your pets are okay . . . at home

cat calls

Oak Parkâ€™s Original Pet Care Service â€“ Since 1986

Daily dog exercising Complete pet care in your home )PVTF TJUUJOH t 1MBOU DBSF Bonded References

524-1030

AIR CONDITIONING/ HEATING AIR CONDITIONING AND APPLIANCE EXPERT Air Conditioning Automotive A/C Refrigerators Ranges â€˘ Ovens Washer â€˘ Dryers Hot Water Heaters Rodding Sewers Lic/Bonded 25 yrs experience

FREE SERVICE CALL WITH REPAIR AND SENIOR/VETERAN DISCOUNT.

708-785-2619 or 773-585-5000

GARAGE DOORS Our 73rd Year

Garage Doors &

Smart Door Openers

Sales & Service Free Estimates

(708) 652-9415 www.forestdoor.com

FLOORS KLIS FLOORING INC.

New hardwood ďŹ‚ooring installation & pergo. Sanding, re-ďŹ nishing, staining. Low prices, insured. Call: 773-671-4996 www.klisflooring.com

The Landmark, July 15, 2020

RBLANDMARK.COM

HANDYMAN CURT'S HANDYMAN SERVICE Drywall Repair • Painting Fans Installed • Carpentry Trim Gutter Cleaning • Window Repair

FREE ESTIMATES Excellent References No Job Too Small

708-488-9411

Mike’s Home Repair Drywall H Painting H Tile Plumbing H Electric H Floors Windows H Doors H Siding Ask Us What We Don’t Do

708-296-2060

HANDYMAN Roofing Repairs Concrete Repairs • Drywall All types of handiwork Call For Free Estimates

773-637-0692 Ask for John

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS COUNTY OF COOK VILLAGE OF FOREST PARK I, VANESSA MORITZ, CLERK OF THE VILLAGE OF FOREST PARK, DO HEREBY STATE, that on Monday, July 27, 2020, at 6:45 PM at the Forest Park Village Hall, 517 Desplaines Avenue, Forest Park, Illinois, a public hearing will be held to consider the proposed adoption of the Appropriation Ordinance for ﬁscal year 2020-2021 for the Village of Forest Park. At the public hearing, all interested persons may provide comments concerning the appropriation of the sums of money the Village of Forest Park deems necessary to defray all its necessary expenses and liabilities. The appropriation document will be available for public inspection no later than July 17, 2020, in the Village Clerk’s Ofﬁce at the Village of Forest Park, 517 DesPlaines Ave., Forest Park, Illinois. Dated this 15th day of July, 2020 Vanessa Moritz Clerk, Village of Forest Park Published in Forest Park Review 07/15/2020

HAULING BASEMENT CLEANING

Appliances & Furniture Removal Pickup & Delivery. 708-848-9404

LANDSCAPING NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN UP

Evergreen trimming & more. Hand weed removal. Clean-ups. Call 24 hrs.

708-447-1762

PAINTING & DECORATING CLASSIC PAINTING Fast & Neat Painting/Taping/Plaster Repair Low Cost

708.749.0011

PLASTERING McNulty Plastering & Stucco Co.

Small & big work. Free estimates. Complete Plaster, Stucco & Re-Coating Services

708/386-2951 • ANYTIME Work Guaranteed

Licensed, Bonded, Insured, & EPA Certified Expert craftsmanship for over 50 years

ROOFING

MIDWEST ROOFING All types of roofing repairs Commercial - Residential Call for free estimate

773-637-0692

LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given of the availability of funding from a Village of Oak Park Business Assistance Loan Program using $300,000 in federal CARES Act Community Development Block Grant-Corona Virus funding. The program is focused on helping small Oak Park businesses that have been negatively impacted by the outbreak of COVID-19. Oak Park Business Assistance Loans up to $5,000 each will be available to registered local businesses with 10 or fewer employees and average annual gross business receipts of less than $2,000,000. To be eligible, businesses must have experienced a 30 percent or more loss in revenue due to the COVID-19 outbreak. If the business retains at least one full-time-equivalent low or moderate income employee for the first three months after receipt of loan funds, the loan will be forgiven. Funds can be used for operating expenses including payroll and rent. Funds cannot to be used for equipment purchases, construction or expansion-related costs. Businesses that are chains or franchises are not eligible. Participation in the Oak Park Business Assistance Loan Program requires the completion of an application form. All applications must be complete with signed and dated documents. Additional, more detailed information about the loan program, including the application form, can be found on the Village’s website at www.oakpark.us/covid19businessloan. Loan applications may be submitted electronically to Business@ oak-park.us beginning at 9 a.m., July 28. No program applications will be accepted prior to this time and date. Loan applications submitted before this time and date will not be considered and must be re-submitted. Applications will be considered on a first-come firstserved basis for 30 days. Contact Jeff Prior with any questions or comments at jprior@oak-park.us. Published in Wednesday Journal July 15, 2020

PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE OF VIRTUAL NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING Date: Tuesday, August 4, on ZOOM Virtual Meeting Service www.Zoom.us About Zoom: It’s free for you to view! Watch it from your phone, tablet or computer, live when at the meeting time or later as a recording. Or alternatively, dial in just like a conference call. Time: 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm Virtual Location (will feature video presentation and drawings of the project): For Zoom Invite Link, email Tim. Pomaville@ AmbrosiaHomesInc.com Meeting ID: 312 437 8292 Meeting Password: ambrosia

Alternatively, just dial in like a conference call: Call 415-762-9988 at the time of the meeting. Use the meeting ID and Password above. Subject Property Address(es): 261 Washington, Oak Park, IL Proposed Development: New construction, 5 story, 28-unit apartment building with 28 on-site parking spots Purpose of Meeting: Pre-Planned Development Submittal Discussion To submit comments call or email Contact: Tim Pomaville, Ambrosia Homes, 312-437-8292, Tim.Pomaville@AmbrosiaHomesInc.com If you can’t make the meeting: We will record it and post it on YouTube for you to watch later!

Published in Wednesday Journal July 15, 2020

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION NEWREZ LLC D/B/A SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING Plaintiff, -v.JUANITA J. EDWARDS Defendants 2018 CH 05854 301 48TH AVENUE BELLWOOD, IL 60104 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on February 3, 2020, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on August 6, 2020, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 301 48TH AVENUE, BELLWOOD, IL 60104 Property Index No. 15-08-229-0010000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/ or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of

the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-17-05268 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2018 CH 05854 TJSC#: 40-1864 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 2018 CH 05854 I3152386

Starting a new business in 2020? Call the Experts! Publish Your Assumed Name Legal Notice in Wednesday Classified. Call 708/613-3342 to advertise.

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, N.A. AS SUCCESSOR TO JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS TRUSTEE FOR RESIDENTIAL ASSET MORTGAGE PRODUCTS, INC., MORTGAGE ASSET-BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2006-RZ2 Plaintiff, -v.JINKY G. BARREDO A/K/A JINKY BARREDO, ALBERTO VELASCO Defendants 18 CH 06920 1441 SOUTH WOLF ROAD HILLSIDE, IL 60162 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on January 17, 2020, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on August 3, 2020, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1441 SOUTH WOLF ROAD, HILLSIDE, IL 60162 Property Index No. 15-20-112-0450000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/ or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court

file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-18-05254 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 18 CH 06920 TJSC#: 40-1612 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 18 CH 06920 I3152553

ments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-19-04111 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2019 CH 05533 TJSC#: 40-1758 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 2019 CH 05533 I3152479

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS LEGAL TITLE TRUSTEE FOR TRUMAN 2016 SC6 TITLE TRUST Plaintiff, -v.EDILBERTO V. VERZO, MARCELINA C. VERZO, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 2019 CH 05533 300-302 NORTH CUYLER AVENUE OAK PARK, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on January 23, 2020, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on August 5, 2020, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 300-302 NORTH CUYLER AVENUE, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-08-107-0090000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/ or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assess-

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION IL LENDING LLC, A FOREIGN LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; Plaintiff, vs. PALAJI BROTHERS & POLLAK INVESTMENTS, LLC, A FOREIGN LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, AND ANY UNKNOWN OWNERS & NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 19 CH 14294 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, August 4, 2020 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-05-106-031-0000. Commonly known as 6 LeMoyne Parkway, Oak Park, IL 60302. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection For information call Mr. Joseph R. Ziccardi at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Ziccardi Law Offices, 77 West Washington Street, Chicago, Illinois 60602. (312) 372-3477. INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3152055

The Landmark, July 15, 2020

21 E. BURLINGTON ROAD, RIVERSIDE | MYBURLINGTONREALTY.COM | 708.447.7207 EN OP

N SU

1-3 EN OP

N SU

1-3

N SUPM N 2 1 E OP AM 10

151 Bloomingbank Rd, Riverside $1,075,000

1926 Berteau Ave, Chicago $724,900

59 East Quincy, Riverside $379,000

200 Addison, Riverside $565,000

1128 Washington Blvd, 3A, Oak Park $149,900

404 Selborne Rd, Riverside $479,900

330 Northwood Rd, Riverside $485,000

192 Waubansee Rd, Riverside $549,900

1429 N Wells, #705, Chicago $550,000

74 Woodside, Riverside $569,999 AL NT E R

835 Community Dr, La Grange Park $599,900

172 Maplewood Rd, Riverside $649,900

321 Delaplaine Rd, Riverside $790,000

299 Longcommon Rd, Riverside $899,000

67 Forest, Riverside $1,750/mo

WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

Visit us at www.atproperties.com/agents/Burlington to view all of our properties and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and updates on the local real estate market.